The Phillies Zone

Impressed with what he saw during a simulated game Thursday, Charlie Manuel said he hopes to start Jimmy Rollins at shortstop on Sunday.

Rollins has missed the last 12 games with a strained right hamstring. The shortstop took some swings against live pitching for the first time Thursday and also ran the bases. How did it feel?

"It felt like running," Rollins said.

If Rollins were to return Sunday, he would have seven regular-season games left to re-acclimate himself to game speed before the playoffs begin.

"The first game, there would be a speed adjustment," Rollins said. "After that, it's not bad."

Manuel was asked if seven games is a long enough period for Rollins to become comfortable at the plate.

"It might be," Manuel said. "Sometimes, you throw someone in there and they take off. Other times, they think they're ready and they have a couple good days and they're not ready at all."

In Rollins' first four games back from his first stint on the disabled list for a strained right calf, he was 3 for 14 with a home run and 3 RBIs but had to go back on the DL after that. In his first seven games back from the second DL stay, he was 6 for 29 with a home run and 4 RBIs.

On Thursday, Rollins took at-bats against Antonio Bastardo, David Herndon, Vance Worley and Mike Zagurski. He said he is just about comfortable with every part of his game except one aspect.